By: Dr.Swapan Gupta
Source: The Daily Guardian  https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/1654/the-daily-guardian/14
Dated: November 16, 2024

It is currently estimated that 70% of visits to a doctor are psychosomatic in origin. The power of a positive mindset cannot be overstated. The only solution to mental health issues is to have a positive mindset. The mind has an enormous ability to heal itself.

Situations in our lives may not be going to change anytime soon, but a positive mindset has three major outcomes:

1. It releases healing and happy hormones; Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins (DOSE).
2. It allows us to tackle situations in the wisest and most clear-sighted ways.
3. It, at the very least, decreases the experience of suffering, of agony.
    

The main question then is, how do we develop a positive mindset?

First of all, we must make sure that we are not putting negative images, conversations and ideas into our brains and minds. The mind can only access what is in the ‘library’ within. If we instal Instagram messages, world news and conversations filled with anxiety, fear, anger, it is like feeding the brain with negativity, with detrimental effect. We cannot choose our environment but we can choose what we feed our brain and mind – just as we can choose what food to eat for the body.

Secondly, to re-wire the brain we need the consistency of daily practice. The Canadian psychologist, Donald Hebb, in his research into the function of neurons, posited that 

“… neurons that fire together, wire together.’’ In other words, whenever we think or do something, neurons are fired. Repetitive firing of these neurons creates an ever-stronger connection while other connections atrophy. We have 86 billion neurons in our brains – some switched on some switched off, and all in unique and different combinations. We all think differently. We have ‘good’ and ‘bad’ mindsets. A good mindset based on eternal virtues like love, joy, happiness heals the mind.  A bad one full of anger, greed, lust or jealousy is extremely derogatory and affects our physical health, relationships, family and work situations. For example, why do some people get depression and others do not? Because, the ones who remain chronically depressed, repeatedly think about the whatever caused their pain, and the circuit becomes stronger and stronger. Someone who may have faced the same situation does not do that. For them it happened once, for the one who remains depressed, it happens over and over again.

Raja Yoga Meditation transforms the mind. Meditation is contemplation, concentration and realisation. Contemplation and concentration on the Supreme Being, God, has an immense power on the brain. God is light, and is considered to be so in most religions. The Supreme Being is also a conscient being, full of love, purity, peace, joy. When we sit mentally with God, those vibrations affect our minds. There is also another scientific discovery connected to meditation. Meditation has been shown to release a very fascinating hormone – Anandamide, the ‘bliss’ molecule. It is the ‘cloud 9’ molecule. It creates happiness and removes fear and anxiety. This molecule boosts memory, improves appetite, improves sleep, has the quality of pain relief, inhibits the production of cancer cells, protects the brain against stroke and neuroinflammation, and helps to end addictions to substance abuse and alcohol. 

So, in effect rewiring the brain into a positive mindset is easy – it just requires practice. However, there are other elements that are equally as necessary. As outlined above, it is important to avoid negative input to the brain and mind, it is also just as important to avoid negative and wasteful thoughts at all cost. As the saying goes; ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak not evil’ – make the addition; ‘think no evil’.

It is also recommended to eat a sattvic or vegan diet is very beneficial. Whatever we eat creates our gut microbiome, which directly affects the brain. Sleep is also extremely important; early to bed and early to rise, is a maxim to live by.

So, a meditative mindset creates a positive mindset. To rewire we need knowledge, so that we know which wires to activate; we must avoid negativity, eat good food, sleep well, keep good company and be consistent. When we sit in the company of God, in active contemplation, our brains can be completely rewired for happiness.

Dr. Swapan Gupta is a neurologist
at the GB Pant Institute, 
New Delhi.